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In a revelation that has sent shockwaves throughout the community, it was recently discovered that the Houston Police Department (HPD) was forced to drop over 264,000 cases, including more than 4,000 sexual assaults, over the past eight years due to a lack of personnel.
This bombshell has prompted Mayor John Whitmire to appoint an independent panel to review the department’s handling of the suspended cases.
The scandal came to light in February when Chief Troy Finner disclosed that hundreds of thousands of incident reports, spanning from sexual assaults to property crimes, were never submitted for investigation.
These reports were assigned an internal code citing insufficient personnel, indicating a systemic failure within the department’s record management system.
“I apologize to victims, their families, our citizens, for the use of the code for sexual assault incidents and other violent crimes against persons,” Finner said at a news conference. “This is not the trauma-informed, victim-centric services they deserve.”
The internal code, implemented in 2016 prior to Finner’s tenure, was utilized during previous administrations, raising questions about accountability and oversight.
Finner stated that upon discovering the code’s usage in November 2021, he immediately ordered its cessation. However, it persisted, as evidenced by its continued application to dismiss a significant number of adult sexual assault cases until last month.
An internal affairs investigation is underway to ascertain why the order to cease using the code was disregarded and to uncover the origins of its implementation. Already, two assistant chiefs have been demoted over their involvement in the matter.
Despite acknowledging staffing challenges, Finner stressed that the department’s failure to investigate cases is inexcusable. “What has happened since 2016 is not acceptable. HPD as a department owns it, and I am committed as chief to making sure that we fix it,” he asserted.
Efforts to address the suspended cases are in progress, with more than 130 investigators reviewing thousands of reports and conducting follow-up interviews with victims.
Whitmire also called for increased transparency and pledged to relay the independent panel’s findings directly to the public.
“We want transparency, credibility, accountability. Not only how this happened, but you’re witnessing what we’re doing about it, but (also) what we’re doing to prevent it in the future,” Whitmire told ABC 13.
As the investigation continues, Governor Greg Abbott has called for consequences to address the issue.
Ken Nealy, first vice president of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, told ABC 13 that the union is focusing on the men and women on the force who are dealing with the heavy workload of cases. He commented on what he would tell the victims affected by the department’s lack of oversight.
“The men and women of the Houston Police Department put safety as the utmost priority for the citizens that we took an oath to provide safety and security for. All the cases, although unfortunately some have been overlooked, I can pretty much assure you that we will do everything possible to investigate those thoroughly,” Nealy said.
Victims impacted by the suspended cases are encouraged by the HPD to persist in seeking justice.
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